Ruddington’s main public transport provider is celebrating after being shortlisted for no less than FOUR UK Bus Awards, including ‘City Operator of the Year’.
If successful, Nottingham City Transport (NCT) – which runs our village Navy 3 and Green 10 services – could be crowned the best bus operator in the UK for a record breaking fifth time!
NCT has been shortlisted for:
- ‘Engineer of the Year’ – Graham Smith
- ‘Environment Award’ – Green NCT – Home of the World’s Largest Fleet of Bio-Gas Double Deckers
- ‘Top National Driver’ – Aaron Johnson
- ‘City Operator of the Year’
Launched in 1996, the UK Bus Awards recognise and reward the best about the bus industry in the UK. NCT has won several awards over the years, including ‘UK Bus Operator of the Year’ in 2004, 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Mark Yexley, UK Bus Awards Chairman commented: “Once again the quality of the entries in 2018 has been outstanding. The judging panels have certainly faced a challenge; excellence is at an all-time high. We wish everybody the best of luck.”
NCT’s longest serving employee, Graham Smith, has been shortlisted for the ‘Engineer of the Year’ award. Joining as an Apprentice in 1970, Graham has been at NCT ‘man and boy’ and through his loyal and dedicated service for 48 years, Graham has progressed through the ranks to Engineering Manager at NCT’s biggest depot, Parliament Street, where he is responsible for 209 buses and a team of 90 staff.
NCT’s £16.4m investment in 53 brand new, environmentally friendly buses Bio-Gas buses – which include all the Green 10 fleet – and its installation of a Gas Fuelling Station has seen the company short-listed for the Environment Award. The introduction of Bio-Gas buses marked the beginning of a 3 year programme by NCT to upgrade its entire fleet to Euro VI by 2020. This has been supported by grants awarded to Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to retrofit diesel buses – including Ruddington’s Navy 3 single-deckers – with an exhaust treatment system that is said to lower emissions by 90%.
‘Top National Driver’ nomination, Aaron Johnson is NCT’s current ‘Driver of the Year’. He is noted to have excellent customer service skills and frequently going ‘above and beyond’ – borne out by the 24 customer commendations he has received in the last decade.
NCT’s ‘Top City Operator’ shortlisting comes in the same year as the Company celebrates its 140th anniversary. Achieving a Transport Focus Customer Satisfaction Score of 94%, NCT carries the 2nd most satisfied bus users in the country and has stabilised passenger numbers against a national decline of 2.2% in the last year. A win in this category could see NCT win ‘UK Bus Operator of the Year’ for a record breaking fifth time.
Mark Fowles, NCT’s Managing Director said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for 4 UK Bus Awards, which recognises that Nottingham City Transport continues to be one of the best bus operators in the country. It goes without saying that NCT would not achieve these accolades without the fantastic contribution from all our employees and my personal congratulations to Aaron Johnson and Graham Smith for their individual shortlistings.”
The UK Bus Awards Finalists’ Announcement takes place on Tuesday 20th November at Troxy in London.
